Loreak (Flowers in English) is the first Basque language film to be nominated for the Goya Award and the first Basque language film to be considered for an Oscar (in the Best Foreign Language film category). It was Spain’s selection for that Oscar, though it was, in the end, not nominated. However, these accolades highlight the reception this film has received.
Per Wikipedia, the plot of Loreak is:
Ane (played by Nagore Aranburu) is a woman in her early forties who does not feel fulfilled. Her life changes when she starts to receive bouquets of flowers at home anonymously, once a week. The lives of Lourdes (Itziar Ituño) and Tere (Itziar Aizpuru) are also altered by some mysterious flowers. A stranger leaves flowers every week in memory of someone who was important for them.
I have yet to see it, but Loreak is currently playing in various cities across the US (see their Facebook page for details), in the original Basque but with English subtitles. It is even in New Mexico, though I don’t think I’ll be able to see it this run.
If anyone does catch the film, please share your thoughts!
Greetings,
Loreak is a well directed and superb movie. I saw it in Alb. on my way to Santa Fe. The review and critics I read mention poignancy, sadness, love and loss–love yes, on the terrestrial as well as celestial level.
The language is sparse but the director’s use of the camera for symbolism–flowers, weather, places–so well that the viewer is drawn into the film. I found myself not reading the subtitle all the time. Of course, everyone has their own interpretation, but to me it was not a movie about loss but rather of transformation, renewal and hope.
Had the movie been in Spanish, it may have won a price at the Cannes film festival. One cannot put too much faith in jury–member of jury are not always objectives. There is now in France and maybe in other European countries, a tug of war regarding the use and teaching regional language–Basque, Bearn, Catalonia and Bretagne ( Brittany).
Some regions demand total immersion in the language in public schools but most people prefer a compromise of daily instruction of few hours. Perhaps politics influenced some jury members.
There is something to be said and admire about the director to present the film in Basque instead of Spanish.
So please, as many of you go see the movie, talk to your local movie programmer about showing this wonderful film, and after you have seen it, and tell us what you think,
Monique